Exhibitions

Magic Places

Natural and Cultural Monuments of the World

Seven Wonders of the World were known in Classical Antiquity, but today the UNESCO has counted more than 900 World Heritage Sites which are masterpieces of human architecture and huge monuments of nature.

For the first time in an exhibition, “Magic Places” is showing the wonders of nature and culture together - as equally significant creations of our planet. “Magic Places” leads us to the unique monuments in which the history of our Earth comes to life in all its wonderful variety. “Magic Places”, that is our world heritage in its wondrous diversity to which the yearning and the joy of discovery of every generation is repeatedly orientated anew.

The exhibition “Magic Places” is a fascinating journey around the world to the most splendid and moving cult sites of natural and human development. Spectacular photographs, astonishing items from the history of the Earth and impressive works from the history of art make it possible to experience the unique nature parks and masterpieces of human architecture as magical places in the beauty of which the vast creative energies of our Earth are embodied. As we penetrate the fascinating images of the mountains, deserts, rivers and forests, of the pyramids, temples, palaces, gardens and skyscrapers, they begin to tell stories – since in each one of them myths, sagas, events concerning the drama of the history of nature and of human beings are hidden away.

For the 100-metre high air space of the Gasometer, Wolfgang Volz created the 40-metre high sculpture “Rain forest tree”. The monumental sculpture, its fascinating sound and light design will transform the Gasometer into a “Cathedral of Nature”. In it stands this “Tree of Life”, as a symbol of the beauty, fertility and vulnerability of the eternal cycle of nature.
With “Magic Places”, Oberhausen’s Gasometer ends the exhibition trilogy about the beauty and sublimeness of the Earth which started with “The Eye in the Sky” and “Out of this World - Wonders of the Solar System” and has so far been visited by more than 1.2 million people.
The German UNESCO commission and TUI Germany are partners of the exhibition.